Chrysanthemum plant named Illini Harvest

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum named Illini Harvest characterized by its flat capitulum form and single anemone capitulum type; red bronze ray florets and yellow-green to golden yellow cushion of disc florets; 55-65 mm. diameter across face of capitulum; excellent flower production, and by its medium pot plant height and semi-upright branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Illini Harvest.

Illini Harvest is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjectives of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with single anemonecapitulum type, red bronze ray floret color, 9 week response, and withthe ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round potmum programs. Such traits in combination were not present in previouslyavailable commercial cultivars.

Illini Harvest was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program in Urbana, Ill. in 1976. The female parent wasidentified as 18-01-74 and the male parent as 6-06-73. Illini Harvestwas discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe selected parentage by John R. Culbert in July, 1977 in a controlledenvironment at Urbana, Ill., and subsequently given the code nameFP-Ill-76-127.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Illini Harvest was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inSeptember, 1977 in a controlled environment in Urbana, Ill. by atechnician working under formulations established and supervised by JohnR. Culbert. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated Dec.28, 1977 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Illini Harvest are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Illini Harvest has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Urbana and West Chicago, Ill. and Parrish, Fla. undergreenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Illini Harvest, which in combinationdistinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Single anemone capitulum type.

3. The anemone disc florets are more developed and pronounced undercertain conditions. Under high temperatures they are smaller and lesspronounced than under low temperatures.

4. Red bronze ray florets, providing good contrast with flat cushion ofdisc florets; good color retention.

5. Diameter across the face of the capitulum is 55-65 mm.

6. Medium pot plant height, about 280 mm. from edge of the pot.

7. Semi-upright branching pattern.

8. Yellow-green (immature) to golden yellow (mature) disc florets.

9. Excellent flower production.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Illini Harvest is Illini Sunset, thecharacteristics of which are disclosed in my pending application.Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Illini Harvest to those same characteristics ofIllini Sunset. Generally, Illini Harvest is distinguished from thecomparison cultivar by its red bronze ray florets, larger diameteracross disc florets, consistent anemone type, taller plant height, andits somewhat later response.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Illini Harvest, with colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a colorphotograph of Illini Harvest, and sheet 2 is a black and white print ofthe underside typical foliage of Illini Harvest at various stages ofgrowth.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 8:00-9:00 A.M. on Apr. 25, 1983 under 2000-3000 foot candles atParrish, Fla.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., CV ILLINI HARVEST.

Commercial.--Pot Mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat; ray florets are rather narrow and long, approximately 30ray florets in 1-2 rows; flat cushions of disc florets blend nicely withray florets.

Type.--Single anemone.

Diameter across face.--55-65 mm.

Number.--18-20 Flowers per plant, with expanded range depending onseason and culture.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Red.

Color (upper side).--46A Fading to 178D.

Color (underside).--179D.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Golden yellow.

Color (immature).--Lime-green.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only -- many.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets -- many.

PLANT

A. General appearance: Slightly spreading but generally upright, withabundant foliage; medium plant height, 280 mm.

B. Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--147B.

Color (adaxial).--147A.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF ILLINI HARVEST AND                                              ILLINI SUNSET                                                                 ______________________________________                                                                         DIAMETER                                              RAY                     ACROSS                                                FLORET     CAPITULUM    FACE OF                                      CULTIVAR COLOR      TYPE & FORM  CAPITULUM                                    ______________________________________                                        ILLINI   Dark Bronze                                                                              Flat daisy or                                                                              50-65 mm.                                    HARVEST             semi-anemone                                                                  type when grown                                                               cool                                                      ILLINI   Maroon-Pink                                                                              Flat daisy   55-65 mm.                                    SUNSET              anemone type                                                                  when grown cool                                           ______________________________________                                                                       DIAMETER                                                          FLOWERING   ACROSS                                                  PLANT     RESPONSE    DISC, ANEMONE                                  CULTIVAR HEIGHT    PERIOD      FORM                                           ______________________________________                                        ILLINI   280 mm.   9 weeks     22-26 mm.                                      HARVEST                                                                       ILLINI   250 mm.   8 weeks     15-18 mm.                                      SUNSET                                                                        ______________________________________                                         Comparison made of plants grown as 6" pot plants in Parrish, Florida     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum named IlliniHarvest, as illustrated and described, and particularly characterized byits flat capitulum form and single anemone capitulum type; red bronzeray florets and yellow-green to golden yellow cushion of disc florets;55-65 mm. diameter across face of capitulum; excellent flowerproduction, and by its medium pot plant height and semi-uprightbranching pattern.